Psalm 78 says that God “established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God.” As one of those children who was once “as yet unborn”, I now know by experience how this works.
In the summer of 1965 my grandfather, Laurence Withington, attended the annual synod of his denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. That synod was held at the new campus of Covenant College, which had just moved the previous year from Saint Louis, Missouri to Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The main thing on the agenda that summer was the pending merger of the EPC with the Reformed Presbyterian Church to form the Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Synod (which later joined the PCA). One of the elder delegates to the Reformed Presbyterian assembly was Norman Collins from Duanesburg, New York. That summer, two people made up their minds about Covenant College: Laurence Withington’s son, 13 year old Douglas, and Norman Collins, the father of 15 year old Sharon.
Norman Collins returned to Duanesburg, NY armed with original Castle in the Clouds postcards from the hotel, a miniature Covenant College mug, and the following statement for his daughter Sharon: “You are going to Covenant College.” She was not in the least bit interested. In fact, she was adamantly opposed to going so far from home. Two years later in the summer of 1967 both of her parents attended Synod at Covenant. Her mother, Frances, ever the bird lover, was walking the trails behind Carter one day and saw something that was a rarity back home in upstate New York - a bright red cardinal. She felt it was a sign of God’s goodness and reassurance that her daughter would go to college there. The next year Sharon was awarded scholarships to two schools in New York State, and was accepted to Covenant as well. After years of repeatedly telling her father that she did not want to go to Covenant, she met with her pastor. After talking and praying with him she had a change of heart and a true peace about giving up her scholarships and going to Covenant even though she had never visited the campus.
So Douglas Withington and Sharon Collins met at Covenant College. They were married a year after Douglas graduated. I am their first child of four. From as far back as I can remember Covenant College has been cemented in my head through stories of how God used the professors and friends here to change my parents’ lives in so many ways. This was where they learned to think and live in a more consistently biblical way. When it came time for me to choose a college, in my mind there was no choice at all. I would attend Covenant. Having been a mediocre student in high school, I was indifferent about the academic aspect, but was excited to get out of the house. Like my mother, I came to Covenant having never even set foot on the campus. From the fall of 1998 through the spring of 2000, I limped my way through classes in which I had little interest. I made great friends and have many fond memories from that time, but I had an immature attitude that involved much idleness, complaining, and blaming others for my failings. I left Covenant after May of 2000, seeing nothing but futility in pursuing an education. I wanted to find something in this life that catered to what I felt were my passions and strengths. For the next 6 years I watched both of my younger sisters, Melissa and Courtney, attend and graduate from Covenant, as I struggled with disillusionment, blocking out any thoughts of ever returning. While I pursued what turned out to be one dead end after another, my mother would periodically encourage me to return to Covenant. I can’t count how many times I told her, “Mom, stop asking me, because I will never go back!” Does history repeat itself? After years of my denial and the relentless prayers of my family, God opened my eyes to the fact that I had been running from my fear of failure in an academic endeavor for which I felt I was not well enough equipped. But more importantly, He made it clear to me that the things I had looked to and the paths I had chosen were not taking me anywhere near where He wanted me to be. I was finally brought to repentance and willingly accepted that I needed to surrender the dream I was trying to create for myself.
When I returned to Covenant College in August of 2006, I immediately knew that I was where God wanted me. Instead of feeling as if I was coming back defeated by the world in which I had wrapped myself, I felt like I was coming home. Through these last 2 years the Lord has shown me what I believe He showed my parents and my sisters during their time here. He has shown me that He is in control and that His plans are best. He has shown me the power of prayer through my family and friends. He has shown me that He is the God of history and places people where He wants them and surrounds them with the right people. He has shown me that He does not waste time, but works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
My Savior has used this institution not only as the means of bringing me into existence, but also as a means by which He has imparted His grace to me and changed my perceptions about my purpose in life, making it clear that it is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. My entire existence is tied to this college. When I first came to Covenant 10 years ago I did not appreciate this, but now I rejoice in how the Lord has used this place not only to help form the earthly family to which I belong for time, but to shape us spiritually that we might all be part of His family for eternity.
In the summer of 1965 my grandfather, Laurence Withington, attended the annual synod of his denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. That synod was held at the new campus of Covenant College, which had just moved the previous year from Saint Louis, Missouri to Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The main thing on the agenda that summer was the pending merger of the EPC with the Reformed Presbyterian Church to form the Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Synod (which later joined the PCA). One of the elder delegates to the Reformed Presbyterian assembly was Norman Collins from Duanesburg, New York. That summer, two people made up their minds about Covenant College: Laurence Withington’s son, 13 year old Douglas, and Norman Collins, the father of 15 year old Sharon.
Norman Collins returned to Duanesburg, NY armed with original Castle in the Clouds postcards from the hotel, a miniature Covenant College mug, and the following statement for his daughter Sharon: “You are going to Covenant College.” She was not in the least bit interested. In fact, she was adamantly opposed to going so far from home. Two years later in the summer of 1967 both of her parents attended Synod at Covenant. Her mother, Frances, ever the bird lover, was walking the trails behind Carter one day and saw something that was a rarity back home in upstate New York - a bright red cardinal. She felt it was a sign of God’s goodness and reassurance that her daughter would go to college there. The next year Sharon was awarded scholarships to two schools in New York State, and was accepted to Covenant as well. After years of repeatedly telling her father that she did not want to go to Covenant, she met with her pastor. After talking and praying with him she had a change of heart and a true peace about giving up her scholarships and going to Covenant even though she had never visited the campus.
So Douglas Withington and Sharon Collins met at Covenant College. They were married a year after Douglas graduated. I am their first child of four. From as far back as I can remember Covenant College has been cemented in my head through stories of how God used the professors and friends here to change my parents’ lives in so many ways. This was where they learned to think and live in a more consistently biblical way. When it came time for me to choose a college, in my mind there was no choice at all. I would attend Covenant. Having been a mediocre student in high school, I was indifferent about the academic aspect, but was excited to get out of the house. Like my mother, I came to Covenant having never even set foot on the campus. From the fall of 1998 through the spring of 2000, I limped my way through classes in which I had little interest. I made great friends and have many fond memories from that time, but I had an immature attitude that involved much idleness, complaining, and blaming others for my failings. I left Covenant after May of 2000, seeing nothing but futility in pursuing an education. I wanted to find something in this life that catered to what I felt were my passions and strengths. For the next 6 years I watched both of my younger sisters, Melissa and Courtney, attend and graduate from Covenant, as I struggled with disillusionment, blocking out any thoughts of ever returning. While I pursued what turned out to be one dead end after another, my mother would periodically encourage me to return to Covenant. I can’t count how many times I told her, “Mom, stop asking me, because I will never go back!” Does history repeat itself? After years of my denial and the relentless prayers of my family, God opened my eyes to the fact that I had been running from my fear of failure in an academic endeavor for which I felt I was not well enough equipped. But more importantly, He made it clear to me that the things I had looked to and the paths I had chosen were not taking me anywhere near where He wanted me to be. I was finally brought to repentance and willingly accepted that I needed to surrender the dream I was trying to create for myself.
When I returned to Covenant College in August of 2006, I immediately knew that I was where God wanted me. Instead of feeling as if I was coming back defeated by the world in which I had wrapped myself, I felt like I was coming home. Through these last 2 years the Lord has shown me what I believe He showed my parents and my sisters during their time here. He has shown me that He is in control and that His plans are best. He has shown me the power of prayer through my family and friends. He has shown me that He is the God of history and places people where He wants them and surrounds them with the right people. He has shown me that He does not waste time, but works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
My Savior has used this institution not only as the means of bringing me into existence, but also as a means by which He has imparted His grace to me and changed my perceptions about my purpose in life, making it clear that it is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. My entire existence is tied to this college. When I first came to Covenant 10 years ago I did not appreciate this, but now I rejoice in how the Lord has used this place not only to help form the earthly family to which I belong for time, but to shape us spiritually that we might all be part of His family for eternity.
3 comments:
hey! that movie thing was a totally out-of-the-ordinary night for me. . but it was fun! good to meet you. soo, i actually looked up your myspace page! the song playing is really neat; then i clicked on the webpage listed and it brought me here! that is a really cool speech. . .thoughtful and inspiring words. best wishes to you in tn!!
Grant, thank you for this speech. I was happy that Courtney and I could be there.
Grant, We just read your Graduation speech. It was great and now we feel we know you and your family better. Also Covenant College. Looking forward to seeing all of you in July.
Aunt Jane & Uncle Bill
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